Puff Pastry & Bacon Christmas Trees

• Preheat oven to 400ºF.
• Place the Hatfield Bacon in a single layer on a paper towel lined plate. Cover with another layer of paper towels and microwave the bacon for 3 minutes. NOTE: the bacon will not be fully cooked at this point.
• Allow the bacon to cool and then cut in half lengthwise to create 22 long strips. Set aside.
• Roll out the the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface until it’s approximately 11″x10″ in size.
• Spread 1/4 cup of the whipped cream cheese over the pastry sheet.
• Place 11 strips of the partially cooked bacon in a row atop the cream cheese.
• Using a pastry wheel, cut 11 rows of bacon topped pastry, creating 1 inch strips.
• Fold the bacon topped pastry accordion-style to form a tree… starting with a wider base and narrowing as you go.
• Slide a skewer through the base of the tree and up through to the top of the tree. Gently spread the layers slightly to retain the tree shape.
• Place on a sheet pan and bake for 18 – 20 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and bacon is crispy.
• Repeat with the 2nd pastry sheet, spreading the remaining 1/4 cup of whipped cream cheese and remaining bacon to form 11 more pastry trees.
• Allow the trees to cool and then add a cheese star at the top of each skewer.
• Sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired.
• Serve and enjoy!

Recipe created by Hatfield’s friend Michelle Atwood at iheartpublix.com.